The $65,000 Sneaker!....

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

This will not qualify as news to any parent of a sports-minded kid from the age of 8 to 16. But those of you outside that demographic might not be familiar with the most influential sports publication on the market -- the Eastbay catalog. With its shiny pictures of all the latest-model athletic shoes just sitting there page after page in all their disembodied glory, from adidas to Nike to And1 to the apparently disinherited Dada, this is consumer porn at its very best.

Would you wear these down to the park for a pickup game?

The November issue is 108 pages long, and there is no underestimating its sociological value. The catalog is purely Darwinian in concept, with the newest models of shoes and jerseys and just plain gear selling for outrageously full retail. ($25.99 for a "Carmelo Retro Wings Tee" makes you wonder how retro a 20-year-old man can be; $99.99 for most top-of-the-line basketball shoes from the major brands.)

Last year's stuff, because it simply isn't cool to anybody who knows the difference, is marked down considerably ($24.99 for last year's Reebok Answer VI hoop shoe). Dada, which I believe was started as someone's idea to market and capitalize on Chris Webber, looks to hold as much market share as diet caffeine-free Mr. Pibb.

Clearly, however, the most enlightening commentary on our current condition can be found on page 5. Dubbed "The Ultimate Gift," it is "The Allen Iverson Question" by Reebok. This is a pair of shoes, mind you, but so much more. "Taking Bling-Bling to a Whole New Level," the ad touts.

5.50 CARATS!

246 DIAMONDS!

ONLY ONE PAIR

WILL EVER BE MADE!

This, of course, is for "Serious Players," or at least those serious enough to part with $65,000 for a pair of shoes. It comes with a combination-lock stainless steel suitcase "for optimal security." The shoelaces are covered in diamonds set in pure white gold.

So, kids, save your pennies. And moms and dads, if you pride yourself on being unique, call the number. Full pre-payment is a condition of sale. No cancellations. Not valid with any other promotion.

Supplies, as they say, are limited.

Def a must have

[paidelr]

My Shoes = $10 SAAN Store

But yowza, for one pair of shoes?

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

it'll just be some rap star that is obsessed with shoes, like Fat Joe or someone that'll buy them......damn id get 'em, but where the fuck could you wear them, without worrying about getting jacked.

[livid]

I have yet to get a call from anybody asking for a pair lol. And yes, I do work at Eastbay taking calls. It's actually based out of my hometown in which I'm also currently lived in. Bet ya' didn't know that Eastbay originated in a small town in Wisconsin did ya'? Or did ya'? Anyways, yeah it's an amazing amount for a shoe and apparently, at one point or another, Bill Gates' wife was gonna buy them, I'm not sure if that was to be true or not, but to my knowledge they haven't been sold yet.

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

couldnt you get a discount then.....it would be sumtin like $64,500 then.....GO FOR IT!

[Guest Bluesman]

damn id get 'em, but where the fuck could you wear them, without worrying about getting jacked.

[Benji]

Am I the only one questioning that one pair will ever be made when it apparently sponsors Allen Iverson?

[Cactus 3:16]

Why the hell would anyone want to pay $65,000 for a pair of trainers? If you did buy a pair, you'd never, ever want to wear them incase they broke.

But I still want them.

[Lowerdeck]

This is just something for the extremely rich to enjoy and look at. Obviously, this is just excess in it's finest.